Counselling therapy

What is Therapy?

Counselling therapy can help you to work out or understand what is troubling you, help you cope with a crisis or make a change in your life.  Through talking with someone who is listening and supporting you, you can come to understand your thoughts and feelings much more fully and clearly.

Therapy can be, at times, a difficult and challenging process, but you are not alone. Your therapist will support and assist you to look at the issues which are most troubling you and which you have been unable to resolve or attend to. Within the safety and confidentiality of a therapy session you will work together to find the best ways to resolve or cope with the issue.

About My Therapeutic Approach:

I work within the Humanistic psychotherapeutic model which draws on person-centred theory, existential theory and some T.A influences. More... My approach is also relational/dialogical in its working.  It is a two way therapy focused on the relationship between client and therapist.  It involves encountering my client in an in-depth way and sustaining a depth of relating in order to promote positive therapeutic process.

Some helpful definitions of therapy terms:

Humanistic Therapy:

The BACP defines Humanistic therapy as ‘Coming from the “personal growth movement” this approach encourages people to think about their feelings and take responsibility for their thoughts and actions. More... Emphasis is on self-development and achieving highest potential. “Client-Centred” or “Non-Directive” approach is often used and the therapy can be described as “holistic” or looking at person as a whole.  The client’s creative instincts may be used to explore and resolve personal issues.’ 

The Counselling Directory adds, ‘This approach focuses on recognising human capabilities in areas such as creativity, personal growth and choice. Two major theorists associated with this approach are Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow.

The main goals of humanistic psychology are to find out how individuals perceive themselves here and now and to recognise growth, self-direction and responsibilities. This method is optimistic and attempts to help individuals recognise their strengths by offering a non-judgemental, understanding experience.’

Person-centred theory:

The counsellor or psychotherapist in this approach aims to provide an environment in which the client does not feel under threat or judgement. More... This enables the client to experience and accept more of who they are as a person, and reconnect with their own values and sense of self-worth. This reconnection with their inner resources enables them to find their own way to move forward.

The counsellor or psychotherapist works to understand the client’s experience from the client’s point of view, and to positively value the client as a person in all aspects of their humanity, while aiming to be open and genuine as another human being. These attitudes of the therapist towards the client will only be helpful if the client experiences them as real within the relationship, and so the nature of the relationship that the counsellor and client create between themselves is crucial for the success of therapy.

Existential theory:

Focuses on exploring the meaning of certain issues through a philosophical perspective, instead of a technique-based approach. More... It is appropriate for those wishing to increase their self-awareness and broaden their views on their surrounding world.

The principles of existential therapy are based on the theories of 19th and 20th century influential philosophers, such as Søren Kierkegaard and Friedrich Nietzsche, who were in conflict with the predominant ideologies of their time and committed to exploring human existence in a personal manner. Existential therapy favours the idea that we are all directly responsible for our own lives, over the idea of meaningful existence and predetermined destiny.

Existential Therapy is generally not concerned with the client’s past, but emphasises the choices to be made in the present and future.

Transactional Analysis theory:  

Seeks to identify what goes wrong in communication and provide opportunities for individuals to change repetitive patterns that limit their potential. More... It encourages individuals to analyse previous decisions they have made to understand the direction and patterns of their life for themselves. It also helps clients to trust their decisions and think/act as an individual improving the way they feel about themselves. TA is a humanistic approach and like Person-Centred Counselling focuses on the here and now concept.